Tributes have been pouring in for a former mayor of Rugby who has died at the age of 84.

Cllr Eric Smith died in Warwick Hospital on February 20 after suffering a strangulated hernia.

A civic funeral will be held at St Andrews parish church on Monday at 2pm.

Traffic in the town centre will be halted while the present mayor and councillors move in procession along Evreux Way and North Street to the church.

Former toolmaker Mr Smith, who lived in Rytonon-Dunsmore, was mayor in 1995-96.

His daughter Jane Lloyd, from Leamington, said her father would be proud to think he was to be honoured by councillors.

He said: "We had talked about it and it was what he wanted. He was proud to be a councillor and to serve Ryton, which he loved. He will be very much missed - he could touch people on their level and strike a rapport with them within minutes.

Rugby borough councillor Gordon Collett (Con, Dun-church and Knightlow) said Mr Smith's death was a sad loss to Rugby.

He said: "He was a quiet man who believed actions spoke louder than words.

"He was delighted to become a borough councillor and later mayor.

"It is a fitting gesture that he should have a civic funeral, and one which he definitely earned."

Mr Smith leaves a widow, Win, another daughter Ann, two granddaughters and three great-grandchildren.